She, therefore, felt an immediate accession of... She, therefore, felt an immediate accession of confidence, when she found that he was, like herself, awaiting the next boat
Cassy’s air and manner, address, and evident command of money, prevented any rising disposition to suspicion in the hotelPeople never inquire too closely into those who are fair on the main point, of paying well,—a thing which Cassy had foreseen when she provided herself with money
In the edge of the evening, a boat was heard coming along, and George Shelby handed Cassy aboard, with the politeness which comes naturally to every Kentuckian, and exerted himself to provide her with a good state-room
Cassy kept her room and bed, on pretext of illness, during the whole time they were on Red river; and was waited on, with obsequious devotion, by her attendant
When they arrived at the Mississippi river, George, having learned that the course of the strange lady was upward, like his own, proposed to take a state-room for her on the same boat with himself,—good-naturedly compassionating her feeble health, and desirous to do what he could to assist her
Behold, therefore, the whole party safely transferred to the good steamer Cincinnati, and sweeping up the river under a powerful head of steam
Cassy’s health was much betterShe sat upon the guards, came to the table, and was remarked upon in the boat as a lady that must have been very handsome
From the moment that George got the first glimpse of her face, he was troubled with one of those fleeting and indefinite likenesses, which almost every body can remember, and has been, at times, perplexed withHe could not keep himself from looking at her, and watchin her perpetuallyAt table, or sitting at her state-room door, still she would encounter the young man’s eyes fixed on her, and politely withdrawn, when she showed, by her countenance, that she was sensible to the observationShe began to think that he suspected something; and finally resolved to throw herself entirely on his generosity, and intrusted him with her whole history
George was heartily disposed to sympathize with any one who had escaped from Legree’s plantation,—a place that he could not remember or speak of with patience,—and, with the courageous disregard of consequences which is characteristic of his age and state, he assured her that he would do all in his power to protect and bring them through
The next state-room to Cassy’s was occupied by a French lady, named De Thoux, who was accompanied by a fine little daughter, a child of some twelve summers
This lady, having gathered, from George’s conversation, that he was from Kentucky, seemed evidently disposed to cultivate his acquaintance; in which design she was seconded by the graces of her little girl, who was about as pretty a plaything as ever diverted the weariness of a fortnight’s trip on a steamboat
George’s chair was often placed at her state-room door; and Cassy, as she sat upon the guards, could hear their conversation
Madame de Thoux was very minute in her inquiries as to Kentucky, where she said she had resided in a former period of her lifeGeorge discovered, to his surprise, that her former residence must have been in his own vicinity; and her inquiries showed a knowledge of people and things in his vicinity, that was perfectly surprising to him
“Do you know,” said Madame de Thoux to him, one day, “of any man, in your neighborhood, of the name of Harris?”
“There is an old fellow, of that name, lives not far from my father’s place,” said George“We never have had much intercourse with him, though
“He is a large slave-owner, I believe,” said Madame de Thoux, with a manner which seemed to betray more interest than she was exactly willing to show
“He is,” said George, looking rather surprised at her manner
“Did you ever know of his having—perhaps, you may have heard of his having a mulatto boy, named George?”
“O, certainly,—George Harris,—I know him well; he married a servant of my mother’s, but has escaped, now, to Canada
“He has?” said Madame de Thoux, quickly“Thank God!”
George looked a surprised inquiry, but said nothing
Madame de Thoux leaned her head on her hand, and burst into tears
“He is my brother,” she said
“Madame!” said George, with a strong accent of surprise
“Yes,” said Madame de Thoux, lifting her head, proudly, and wiping her tears, “MrShelby, George Harris is my brother!”
“I am perfectly astonished,” said George, pushing back his chair a pace or two, and looking at Madame de Thoux
“I was sold to the South when he was a boy,” said she“I was bought by a good and generous manHe took me with him to the West Indies, set me free, and married meIt is but lately that he died; and I was going up to Kentucky, to see if I could find and redeem my brother
“I heard him speak of a sister Emily, that was sold South,” said George
“Yes, indeed! I am the one,” said Madame de Thoux;—“tell me what sort of a—”
“A very fine young man,” said George, “notwithstanding the curse of slavery that lay on himHe sustained a first rate character, both for intelligence and principleI know, you see,” he said; “because he married in our family
“What sort of a girl?” said Madame de Thoux,
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